2 HOPEFULS USE PROPS TO PUSH LAST-MINUTE POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS

TALLAHASSEE -- A lemon-colored balloon and a silver tea service with fine china became political props Thursday as two of the four Democratic candidates for attorney general launched last-minute voter appeals.

With only five days to go before the primary election, Walter Dartland of Dade County held onto a yellow balloon and called for toughening of Florida's "lemon" law to better equip consumers in their battles with large automobile manufacturers. His 19-point proposal in part calls for two-year or 24,000-mile warranties on all new automobiles sold in the state and requires dealers to let car buyers know their rights before the purchase.

Dade County state Sen. Joe Gersten later unveiled a new television commercial in which he vows to break up the "Tallahassee tea party" by promising not to bow to special interests. He has tried to paint himself as an outsider who refuses to play by accepted rules.

Gersten's afternoon press conference was accentuated by a fine china tea service set out on a linen table cloth by Kevin Renfroe, the white-gloved daytime maitre'd of the exclusive Governor's Club.

Gersten pointed out two of his Democratic opponents, Bob Butterworth of Fort Lauderdale and Edgar Dunn of Ormond Beach, have received contributions from special interests -- which he agreed election laws allow them to do.

"The fat cats and lobbyists are doing all they can to beat me. I'll represent the people who work and sweat and hope," Gersten said. "The affairs of this state are treated like a high society tea party."

He added later, however, he also would have accepted the money if it had been offered.

Only two hours earlier Dartland, former Dade County consumer advocate, held a press conference to say that the problem with malfunctioning new automobiles is a "billion dollar consumer headache in Florida, with a capital B."

Dartland, who pledged to still pursue revisions in the law if not elected, also wants the attorney general's office to establish arbitration boards around the state to deal with the complaints of lemon owners.

Of the 700,000 new cars purchased in the state each year, he said 10 percent -- or 70,000 -- will be lemons. And, he added, the state's two-year-old "lemon law" has not been the boon to consumers that had been expected.

"It was an idiot bill that does nothing for anybody at all," he said.

To highlight the plight of these car owners, Dartland has held a series of "Lemon Aide" days around the state, which has attracted 300 new car owners seeking help with their lemons.

"Yeah, it's a political gimmick," he conceded. "But for God's sake, we're trying to help folks. Attorneys are out there volunteering their time. We've run into consumer distress all over the state."

Dartland particularly remembered the Orlando owner of a Yugo who drove his new car eight miles home, put it into the garage and found the reverse gear broken. Then his wife sat in the seat and the seat broke.

"I get an ulcer out there," he said. "You sit there and have to work with people who are in tears, who are angry."

Dartland said the state has the capability of forcing automobile manufacturers to improve their quality or at least their attitude in the handling of "lemons."